Energy Harvesting for Powering Wireless Sensor Networks On-Board Geostationary Broadcasting Satellites

This paper addresses the topics of energy harvesting for powering autonomous wireless sensors on board of geostationary broadcasting satellites. The feasibility of energy harvesting by using thermoelectric modules or rectennas is firstly discussed then the design and the implementation of a rectenna is presented. Experimental results in Ka band demonstrate the feasibility of the use of such rectenna in satellite applications.